Clwyd West MS Darren Millar, who has worked closely with those leading a campaign to promote safer driving among first-year drivers following the tragic death of a Denbighshire teenager, is backing plans for a progressive licensing system for newly qualified drivers.

Night-time driving curfews for young motorists are among a raft of measures being advocated by health chiefs in Wales. Others include a ban on giving lifts and a 75% cut in the drink driving limit.

Public Health Wales (PHW) is recommending the introduction of Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) in the belief it will save lives. This would impose restrictions on newly qualified drivers under the age of 25 for the first six or 12 months.

PHW has submitted its recommendations to a 12-week Welsh Government consultation on its new road safety strategy. Other suggestions include increased road crossing times for pedestrians and the scrapping of painted cycle lanes – PHW wants lanes built that are clearly separated from road traffic.

Darren fully supports the proposals having been involved with the ‘Olivia’s Legacy’ campaign, which was established after 17-year-old Olivia Alkir was killed in a horrific crash on the B5105 between Ruthin and Clawddnewydd in 2019. 

This campaign calls for all new drivers to be required to have a black box fitted to their vehicle for the first year after they pass their test and a limit on the number of passengers they can carry to one, in order to promote safer driving.

Welcoming the proposed new measures, Darren said:

“Olivia was only 17 when she was tragically killed in a car accident. Having worked closely with her mother, Jo, on the Olivia’s Legacy campaign I know the heartbreak families endure when they lose a loved one in this way and we need to be doing everything we can to prevent more accidents with young drivers.

“Since first meeting with Jo and her family and working on the campaign, I have met with Ministers, North Wales Police and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) to highlight the changes that are needed, I am therefore delighted that this is now being seriously looked at.

“What is being proposed would go along way to protecting our young people on the roads, as well as other motorists and pedestrians. The proposals have my full support.”